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Published: September 23rd 2010
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Monday 6th September to Sunday 12th September 2010.
Monday 6th Sept 2010
Looked around Londonderry, not much happening as lots of shops are closed as it is Monday, and they open Saturday and Sunday. We have noted that we have to make Mondays our catchup/rest day.
Drove to Letterkenny and found Hymer dealer. Have booked in the motorhome for next Monday so went into tourist information office to plan the next week. Headed south to Belleek and found The Lakeside campsite by lake which is man made hydro system. Pelting down with rain and blowing a gale - but dam is overflowing - some good has come from it. The campsite was only just ordinary.
Tuesday 7th September 2010
We left the expensive very ordinary campsite and full lake and stopped at a pottery place that mostly made lace style pottery. They exported to Tiffany’s New York . Then into Belleek and Belleek Pottery. www.belleek.ie . It is a major industrial pottery - lovely stuff. We made some purchases. Then onto Enniskellen - lots of food shopping. We found out that the Marble Arch Caves were closed due to the heavy rain. On towards Carrick-On-Shannon and spent night free
camping by Lough Allen - lovely spot . But the blackberries were not ready to pick-bummer.
Wednesday 8th Sept 2010.
Into Carrick-On-Shannon, County Leitrim. Went to ‘The Dock’
Lovely craft gallery, it inspired Gaye to think about doing Raku again - me to.
We saw the 2nd smallest chapel in the world. Went to a crystal shop - not much there of interest for us, then headed to Sligo and the information office. Went to ‘Yeats’ photo exhibition. On we went to ‘The Clarence’ waterfall - one that Yeats mentions in his poetry - plenty of water. It was like Somersby Falls.
Then we drove to ‘Slieve Cliffs’, a few kms from Kellybegs. Very, very, very, narrow and steep road up to parking bay- that has ended Gaye’s tolerance of narrow roads (will have to use scooter for these trips - this could scare her more). Spectacular scenery. The drive was certainly well worth it, even though nerves are totally shattered .
Then went looking for a campsite - thank goodness we had the Tom Tom and a local passerby to ask- otherwise we would never had found it. This site has been one of the best for views/location
and cost €18 with free showers. Tom took some video.
Thursday 9th Sept 2010
Started out good as the sun was shining and off to Glenveagh National Park. We came across a great art and craft gallery. Have taken a pamphlet of an artist as we wanted to buy one of her prints unframed but the gallery could not help us. Will do our own research.
Next to Glenveagh National Park. The drive up over the moors was good - took some video of village at the end of ‘Dun Lujche’ Lough and cliffs. The scenery reminded us of The Grampians in Scotland and parts of the south island of New Zealand.
At the Glenveagh National Park, the castle is 4kms from car park and another 8kms from castle is the waterfall, so off came bicycles and we rode to both. We also did the tour of the castle.
Then the drive to campsite at Downing was a doozie - one lane road not passable - (took video). We felt like we had been around the world for sixpence - but did not get to the see the big giraffe.
Set up for the night and got the bicycles
and scooter off as might ride to the Jazz and Blues festival tomorrow at Dunfanaghy, weather permitting.
Friday 10th Sept 2010
Won’t be using the scooter as very windy and looks like rain and the Jazz Festival won’t end until after 10pm or later.
Tom practiced his riding on the scooter. We rode around the caravan park on scooter to practice with Gaye as pillion passenger.
Into Dunfanaghy - we can’t believe how many pubs and hotels this town has in relation to the population. Had dinner at Mollys and the pub crawl began - went to Muck and Muffins wine bar to listen to Pat and Donald (really good). Went to Carrig Rua pub and there was blue grass band playing (really good). Went back to Mollys pub and listened to Beekeepers (they were OK).
Then drove home at about 11pm. A great night.
Saturday 11th September 2010
Chatted to several other motorhomers, and then into Dunfanaghy for another night of music and drink.
Went into Arnolds pub and listened to Bourbon Swing Band (really good). Into Carrig Rua pub to listen to Short Fuse Blues Band. Extra good. Got their business card as they didn’t have
any CD’s to sell. We can download their music from web site. We had parked up the hill in a side road and slept there for the night.
Sunday 12th September 2010.
Tom was up early and went for walk into town. He found an almost full box of Budweiser beer someone had left in the street from last night, so brought them back - good start to the day.
Headed in to Muckin n Muffins for morning tea.
Drove out to Ards Friary, and walked around to the cliffs for a look.
Back to the Shandon Hotel and to listen to another jazz band for the afternoon - they were more bluesy music.
Back to Letterkenny and camped outside Donaghey’s Motorhome Dealer for the motorhome service tomorrow.
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